@MooseMouthMthafuga @flo @Diasporan Royalty @hex @Primetime
At 1hr 8 min is a good listen about MBJ's performance in Black Panther.
‘Creed’ With Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris, Sean Fennessey, and K. Austin Collins
They do like his performance but have some thoughts.
-Mentioned how when he shares a scene with Boseman or actors more seasoned than him you can see that there are some layers missing.
- He's at 10 all the time. Mentioned how Stallone in Creed wasn't, but had so much gravitas.
- How every other actor in Black Panther is a classically trained actor. Mentioned Winston Duke.
- Would like to see him working with other great directors. Learn some new things and then come back to Coogler.
- However, the choice of the character is like Boyz N the Hood (Tre?) if they were to be conditioned through the military.
- Also, you can make the case that Jordan is actually the avatar for Ryan Coogler.
- People talk about the lack of refinement of Jordan in comparison to the other actors. However, it resembles how Coogler is with interviews, etc. Where he just who he is.
- An outsider to the whats the expected norm, but who is not going to change who he is. That's the same with the choices they went for the character.
I think in their discussion that they are right. People can talk about if MBJ's performance works for them or not. Most agree that the characterization is strong. MBJ's performance is a reflection of Ryan Coogler and the choices they went with.
That's why it worked for me. Cause he adds a different dimension to the rest of the film/characters. Boseman is the subtle and polish. MBJ is pure energy and lack of refinement adds to the character. That helps with the ying and yang. The lack of layers (as an actor) goes along with the things he missed out on as a character.
Imo MBJ would have struggled with no Coogler, but with Coogler it works and has the best brought out of him.